By Ginia Bellafante/Reported by Wendy Cole

Celebrity chef Paul Prudhomme had more than overspiced gumbo to worry about last week. The portly king of Cajun cooking was arrested at a Maryland airport when a standard security check uncovered a loaded .22-cal. revolver in his carry-on bag. A recreational target shooter, Prudhomme said he packed the pistol by mistake. Profusely apologetic, chef Paul issued a statement claiming, "The only `heat' I wanted to bring to Baltimore was my seasoning line."